Re-Thinking the Christian Worldview

August 26, 2013

From Hannah Montana to Miley Cyrus. What have we become?

Last night the world was subject to the full transformation of our former Teen Idol Hannah Montana. The brilliant Disney family star approached pop music's Superbowl ( The MTV Music Awards) donned in a revealing outfit performing lewd sexual innuendos in front of millions. Even Will Smith and kids in tow were appalled at the performance of Disney's former mistress.

And so the question must be asked, "What happened?"

Miley Cyrus was the heir apparent to all the Disney empire only a few short years ago, and now we can't even turn on the television without seeing her performing some disgusting tribute, wearing something too revealing, or even worse, smoking something I'm trying to protect my kids from. What's going on here?

I can't help but know there will be several ministry sites today bashing the performance (and it will be difficult to disagree with them) but I think the more important question at hand is, "How did we let this happen?"

Sure there will be those who say Miley decided to do whatever....Some will just huff in disgust at Hollywood, pop culture, and there will be those who say, "See, America is going to hell in a hand basket."

But they don't understand.

They don't understand, Miley didn't go to her closet and pick out those clothes.She didn't choreograph that dance.She might have had some influence into what was going to happen, but for those who want to judge this morning, be sure you're judging the whole picture.

She has stylists.She has wardrobe people.She has choreographers.She's basically owned by a label. So, how did the once innocent Hannah Montana turn into this?

I think we need to look deep into the human conscience and ask how WE allowed this to happen? Where was Disney? They made hundreds of millions off Hannah Montana, where are they this morning?

Where are her parents? What's happened that Miley feels like she has to compete with Madonna, Ga Ga, or even straight up strip club porn?

Why does the pop music industry allow this to happen when millions of kids are going to mimic what she's doing on stage? Is it because they don't care? OR is it because we let it go on in our own communities? Has it become normal?

I'll never forget when a prominent pastor friend of mine walked into KIVU and saw us setting up for our annual Barn Dance Extravaganza. He leaned in and whispered, "What are you guys doing?"

"Well, we're throwing a barn dance tonight to teach kids how to have fun dancing.'

"Aren't you afraid they'll have SEX?" He whispered in a hushed tone.

I looked at him quizzically and answered, "Well....NO!"

You see, if we teach our kids how to deal with pop culture, and reveal to them there are places where pop culture doesn't have to cross the line to 'nasty,' I think we can live in the world without much problem.

But when the only space for our kids to explore cultural identity is through the lens of a former idol who has now endorsed lewdness in front of millions; well, we're going to have an increasingly harder time having discussions about marriage, family, sexuality, and the need to take relationships seriously.

I know it wasn't Ms. Cyrus' intent to be the role model she is. It seems, from afar, she's struggling to find herself and in doing so is bowing to the lowest common denominator of sexuality. If she deserves to be criticized, demoted, subject of boycott, or whatever judgement our community sees fit...then fine.

But let's not forget much of what happened last night on the MTV Music Awards wasn't merely creating as much as it was reflection. Many of you have asked about the nature of teenage sexuality in the 21st century, well...it was on for all to see last night.

No more hiding.No more secret hooking up.No more wondering.If you want to know what's going on in the hallways of today's high school, just watch a little re-cap, because you'll be sure not to want to see all that went on last night.